I have firsthand experience working with one of the founding partners of Carson & Noel PLLC. I want to share my experience working with this firm.
I was sued by the owners of a house next to a rental property. The owners of that house are both attorneys, though they do not do litigation for their careers. I was not the first neighbor who they sued. At least one of the other neighbors they sued was able to secure a voluntary dismissal very quickly. I believe that their case was frivolous.
The neighbors represented themselves for several months before eventually hiring an attorney. Rather than aggressively attempt to secure a quick dismissal of the case, our lawyer conservatively advised us to consider compromise and to engage the other side in ways that I believe were needlessly expensive.
When those same neighbors sued my tenants for anti-harassment orders, we hired a different lawyer to represent them. That lawyer responded aggressively; defeating the orders and getting the attorney-neighbors sanctioned by a judge. That whole process took less than two months. The lawsuit handled by Carson & Noel took nearly a year. After that time, the Court dismissed the neighbors' claims as a matter of law. The Court also awarded sanctions against the neighbors, after my second attorney urged that we ask for more in sanctions than the firm originally suggested.
I do not feel like they communicated clearly with me as to how and what I would be charged. For example, I was charged for online research fees without my prior approval. Especially on issues of state law, I think it is reasonable to assume that a firm's hourly fees will cover their expenses incurred in learning the law unless they tell you otherwise. I never saw the firm act more aggressively than when they were pursuing me for payment of their bill.
The firm did "win" my case. And they may be a good fit for some clients. But before you hire them, I urge you to make sure that you have a clear understanding of what they will charge you, and that you are comfortable with their approach to your case. read more